Evaluation of antiarrhythmic activity of captopril and enalaprilat in experimental cardiac arrhythmias in rabbits. Part II.

The influence of 21-day administration of captopril and enalaprilat on barium chloride and adrenaline-induced experimental arrhythmias was assessed. The experiments were performed on rabbits. Arrhythmias were evoked by two alternative arrhythmogen doses. The patterns of disturbances, their frequency and duration were evaluated on the basis of ECG examination. Antiarrhythmic properties of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors administered for 21 days were also compared with their effects after single administration. The results were subjected to statistic analysis. On the basis of the obtained results we were able to establish that repeated administration of enalaprilat decreases the frequency of barium chloride- and adrenaline-induced arrhythmias. Repeated administration of captopril and enalaprilat shortened the duration of adrenaline- and barium chloride-induced arrhythmias. Long-term enalaprilat administration was much more effective in preventing arrhythmias than its single dose, it also proved to be more efficient than either single or repeated administration of captopril.